NSW Deputy Premier changes tune, backs PM as leader

Ross Greenwood speaks to NSW Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, who has changed his tune – now backing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as leader.

Introduction: NSW Deputy Premier changes tune, backs PM as leader

Ross Greenwood:  This is about skills. We always love talking about skills in this program. The way in which people acquire skills. The problem is, you’ll have now increasingly more jobs during your working life. You’re going to have to adapt the skills that you have depending on what new job you might go to. As a result of that, the deputy premiere and the administrative skills and small business is John Barilaro who’s a regular on this program.

He’s basically come together with taking New South Wales to announce that New South Wales small businesses and staff are going to get access to free business skills training. It’s a new initiative. Let’s get him online right now. Many thanks for your time, John.

Interview with: John Barilaro, NSW Deputy Premier

John Barilaro:  Thank you, Ross.

Ross Greenwood:  Government giving away something for free is always something people get a little bit suspicious about. Should I be suspicious about this as well?

John Barilaro:  No, there’s no need to be suspicious, Ross. You know full well that, one of the things we’ve got to do is build a strong small business sector. They advise employers, the collective, the importance of the economy. What we want to do is make sure that our business plan is the start within our small businesses and our business management itself to equip people with skills. Allow them to grow their businesses with time. As you are aware, we live in a very destructive time. Technology and innovation changing the way the usual stand business model works.

Particularly, what we’re focused in is digital literacy and financially literacy. We are offering a small business owners and their staff a free training to take these courses while accessing courses around digital literacy, financial literacy, cyber security and business management. We want to equip these small business owners not only to survive, but to actually thrive.

Ross Greenwood:  That’s not a bad idea. How do you find a small business? Where is the priority going to be given with these free courses?

John Barilaro:  Well, there are always lots and lots of different definitions of small businesses. We’ll go with the text version of small business managed in a small business. Making sure that these owners have the right skills. Financial literacy better than most is one of the things a lot of small businesses owners probably lack that skill set. A lot of small businesses are trying to achieve these eventualities of running a business, running shop and building the product they are proud of, better service delivery.

Actually delivering the product that maybe was once upon a time a hobby. Having the business skills maybe was not my forte. We’re going to make sure that at a time of destruction the way we make small businesses to grow, we’re giving them the opportunity to get skills learning for the challenges ahead of today, but the challenges in the future.

Ross Greenwood:  Really, it’s sensible. Make sense over the top. The thing is, something free coming out of the government, the business can access. It’s actually a good thing. I can’t let you go without asking, because it is topical, the federal government, Carol Louise, lost a 29 news polls in a row on Monday. Louise lost a 30 in a row. There are calls for the Prime minister to move. You’ve been vocal about the Prime minister in the past. What’s your feeling on 30 news poll loses in a row?

John Barilaro:  That’s for the federal government. You can’t use these polls in any one measure. I’ve been critical of the leadership of federal government. In recent days, I’ve got to give credits to the Prime minister. He’s push on the Malaysian’s.Energy being a big issue for Australia and Australian manufacturers. He’s showing strong leadership, wanting to pressure to deliver on opportunity for someone else to run the geo plant. Many will talk about what happened federally.

The reality is, we do need stability federally. They’re getting on with the job this year. What all others talk about is [crosstalk].

Ross Greenwood:  You’ve softened your tone, John, I’m surprised. You were far more outspoken only a few months ago.

John Barilaro:  Yes. To be honest, I was. I’m not going to hide from that. My comments will be forever on record. Ross, reality is, if you think about pre-Christmas things were looking very bleak in relations to what was happening. Since then, the Prime minister led the victory in New England, the victory in Tenalong was also able to charter a way forward hopefully get the company talking about.

The reality is, the best relationship we’ve been looking for. I’m supporting a good strong relationship at the moment.

Ross Greenwood:  John Barilaro, the Deputy Premier of New South Wales. He was outspoken about the Prime minister. He said it was time for him to go. As you can see, he’s now changing his tune, 30 news polls loses in a row, that will come on Monday. John Barilaro, always good to chat.

John Barilaro:  Thanks, Ross.

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Image source: 2GB